Travis County hurricane guide¶

The Travis County Office of Emergency Management, in Austin, plans the county's disaster response and works with the City of Austin's emergency management office. The county's emergency plan rates a direct hurricane as unlikely here, but flash flooding as likely and tornadoes as an occasional threat with major impact, and tropical storms can bring both. Sign up for WarnCentralTexas.org, check ATX Floods for closed low water crossings, and never drive into flood water.

Checked on October 3, 2026

Every phone number and web address on this page was checked against official sources on that date. Details can change, especially during a storm. Always follow instructions from Travis County Office of Emergency Management. In a life threatening emergency, call 911.

What to know in Travis County¶

For information and to report weather damage that is not an emergency, the county says to call 311.
The county's emergency plan includes supporting Texas host state shelter operations. Check official alerts for shelter openings.

Emergency and information numbers¶

Service	Number	Notes
Emergency	911	Police, fire, and ambulance. Call only when someone's life or property is in danger.
Emergency management office	512-974-0473	Travis County Office of Emergency Management, Chief Emergency Management Coordinator. Office line. Not for emergencies.
Information and weather damage reports (311)	311	For information and to report weather damage that is not an emergency.
Sheriff's Office non-emergency	512-974-0845	Travis County Sheriff's Office non-emergency dispatch, answered 24 hours. Choose option 3.

Official alerts and information¶

WarnCentralTexas.org: Free alerts by text, email, or phone. Sign up before a storm. This regional system for Travis and nine nearby counties calls only landlines unless you register your cell or internet phone. You can register several numbers and addresses. Website.
Accessible Hazard Alert System (AHAS): Emergency alerts in ASL and English voice and text for people who are Deaf, Blind, Hard of Hearing, or DeafBlind, from Travis County and the City of Austin. Website.
ATX Floods: Map of low water crossings that are closed because of flooding. Website.
Travis County Office of Emergency Management: Current incidents, preparedness, and the Ready Central Texas app. Website.
Travis County Emergency Information: County emergency page with help after a disaster, shelters and assistance, and flood recovery contacts. Website.

Evacuation centers¶

Open only when announced

Evacuation centers open only when officials announce them, and not every center opens for every storm. Check the official list of open centers before you leave home. Bring your own bedding, food, water, and medicines.

Travis County does not publish a standing list of shelters. During a disaster, check the county's Shelters and Assistance page and official alerts for shelter information. Do not go to a shelter until it is announced as open.

Official list of open evacuation centers

Radio, TV and weather¶

Keep a battery or hand crank radio. When power and cell service fail, radio is often the only way to hear official updates.

Radio stations¶

Station	Frequency	Language	Notes
KLBJ	590 AM	English	Emergency Alert System primary station (PEP, SR, LP1)
KASE-FM	100.7 FM	English	Emergency Alert System primary station (LP2)

Emergency Alert System roles come from the Texas Emergency Alert System Plan, approved in December 2017 and updated in January 2026, published by the Texas Association of Broadcasters.

NOAA Weather Radio¶

A weather radio turns itself on for warnings, even in the middle of the night. Set it to this frequency.

Station	Frequency	Transmitter
WXK27	162.400 MHz	Austin

TV stations¶

Station	Channel	Network	Language
KXAN-TV (KXAN)	36	NBC	English
KVUE	24	ABC	English
KEYE-TV (CBS Austin)	42	CBS	English
KTBC (FOX 7 Austin)	7	Fox	English
KLRU (Austin PBS)	18	PBS	English
KAKW-DT (N+ Univision 62 Austin)	62	Univision	Spanish

Official forecasts¶

National Weather Service Austin/San Antonio: Local forecasts, watches, and warnings. Phone: 830-629-0130. Website.
National Hurricane Center: Official hurricane forecasts, watches, and warnings. Website.

Power, water and debris¶

Oncor Electric Delivery: In the ERCOT competitive market you may buy power from a retail electric provider, but Oncor owns the lines and restores outages: report outages to Oncor, not to your retail provider. Phone: 888-313-4747. Website.
Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative: Report an outage online or by phone. Assume every downed line is live and stay far away. Phone: 800-949-4414. Website.
Pedernales Electric Cooperative (PEC): Text OUTAGE to 25022. Phone: 888-883-3379. Website.
City of Austin - Austin Energy: Report an outage online or by phone. Assume every downed line is live and stay far away. Phone: 512-322-9100. Website.

After the storm: help for displaced residents¶

If your home is damaged or you cannot go back, these organizations help with shelter, food, money, and paperwork. Many programs open only after a disaster declaration, so check their pages for current status.

Where to start¶

2-1-1 Texas: The free 211 helpline for all of Texas, a program of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, answered by 25 Area Information Centers. Help finding food, housing, child care, crisis counseling, and disaster services, day or night. Dial 211 at any hour. If 211 does not connect, call 877-541-7905. Choose your language, then option 1 for local services or option 4 to register for STEAR. Phone: 211. Website.

Housing and shelter¶

FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers: After a federal declaration, these centers help you apply for aid in person. Use the locator to find the nearest one. Phone: 1-800-621-3362. Website.

Food¶

Central Texas Food Bank: Regional food bank for 21 counties. It supplies local food pantries and meal sites. Austin office. Call or use its website to find a food pantry near you. Phone: 512-282-2111. Website.

Money, work and insurance¶

DisasterAssistance.gov: Apply for FEMA aid after a federal declaration. Phone: 1-800-621-3362. Website.
SBA disaster loans: Low interest loans for homeowners, renters, and businesses after a declared disaster. Phone: 800-659-2955. Website.

Legal help¶

Texas RioGrande Legal Aid: Free civil legal help for low-income residents of 68 counties in central, south, and southwest Texas, including the Coastal Bend, the Rio Grande Valley, San Antonio, and Austin. Call to apply, weekdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time. Local number: 956-996-8752. Help in English and Spanish. Phone: 833-329-8752. Website.

Emotional support¶

Integral Care crisis line: The local mental health authority for Travis County, under contract with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. Answered at any hour, for a mental health or substance use crisis. You can also call or text 988. Phone: 512-472-4357. Website.
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call or text, any time. Phone: 988.

Relief organizations¶

American Red Cross Central Texas Chapter: The Red Cross chapter for 10 counties in central Texas, part of the Red Cross Central and South Texas Region. Shelter, emergency help, and disaster relief. Austin office. For disaster help at any hour, call 1-800-733-2767. Phone: 512-928-4271. Website.

Cities and towns¶

Each city has its own services and some have their own alerts. The county's evacuation zones, evacuation centers, and emergency alerts cover everyone, in every city and in unincorporated areas.

Sources¶

Checked on October 3, 2026. If a number or address here is wrong, please tell us at Keith@KMyers.me.